So Google just launched their new smartphone, Google Pixel. Does it come with some cool new features? Yes! Is it revolutionary? Probably not (yet). So let me give you a quick rundown of what has been said at the Google event today.
To begin with, Google believes that the future lies in machine learning and AI. Most importantly, they believe that it’s going to be the intersection of hardware and software where machine learning and AI are going to have the greatest impact. For that given reason, Google decided to build the new smartphone Pixel – allowing for a seamless integration of hardware and software. Wait, that concept seems surprisingly familiar, doesn’t it? Exactly! That’s what Apple is already doing for decades and decades (and probably was one of the main reasons for their success). This concept is also not really new for Google either. In the past, Google has launched smartphones under the Nexus series, with limited success however (Forbes, 2015). Anyways, Google’s decision to continue that route makes a lot of sense in the new AI/machine learning context. So what’s the problem?
For me, the most promising feature of Pixel definitely is the Google assistant. It’s purpose is to help you and me in our daily lives and go beyond how apps and the phone in general has helped us in the past. From what I’ve seen so far, it sadly seems to be more or less an improved Siri (yes, I am an iPhone user). But I can definitely see the potential of the technology and I believe the really exciting applications of AI are still to come – that’s why there is the “yet” in the introduction. And don’t get me wrong, reserving a spot in a restaurant just with a few instructions that you tell your phone is of course quite a cool thing. I’m just missing that “Wow” effect – in the end, it still only saves you a few clicks.
Besides the first disappointment on the AI side of things, there were some other things Apple and other providers can learn from. Unlimited storage space! Yes, the new Pixel comes with unlimited storage space for photos and videos. What is even more, the phone holds for 7 (!) hours just after charging it for 15 minutes. Oh and not to forget, Pixel still has a regular headphone jack.
Not only did Google reveal their new phone today, but also other products including a new VR headset, Google Wifi, Google Home and 4K Chromecast. To check the full event, follow this link.
I’m interested in what your thoughts are on the Google event today and in particular the Google Pixel. So let me know in the comment section below!
More useful information
Google Pixel website: https://madeby.google.com/phone/
Detailed summary of all new devices: http://thenextweb.com/google/2016/10/04/google-pixel-event-october-2016/
References
Featured image: The Next Web (2016, October 3). Retrieved October 4, 2016, from Google Pixel Smartphones leaked by carphone warehouse: http://thenextweb.com/mobile/2016/10/03/google-pixel-smartphones-leaked-by-carphone-warehouse/#gref
Silbert, S. (2015, September 30). Fortune.com. Retrieved October 4, 2016, from Nexus phones will never see huge sales—but here’s why they don’t need to: http://fortune.com/2015/09/30/google-nexus-smartphones-about-innovation-not-sales/
Made by Google event (2016, October 4). Retrieved October 4, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4y0KOeXViI
Hi Jan! First of all, thanks for the interesting update about the Google event. The company is clearly aiming to become a considerable player in the smartphone market, which grew by 0.7% to almost 345 million phones last year. And although Google dominates the software aspect of the market with more than 80% market share, I think it should not have entered entered the hardware market again. Companies like Apple, Samsung and Huawei have such a large and relatively stable market share that it makes no sense to compete with them. Costumers are completely used to their phones, its design, its features; the switching costs seem to be rather high. I would not be surprised if this move into the market ends up just like the previous one. No wow effect for me either!
For Google moving into hardware makes perfect sense. The biggest pain for Google is updates. Only a small fraction of Android users is on the latest version which leads to fragmentation.
Another one is from a money perspective: they’re giving Android away for free and Samsung (and others) modify it in such a way, you don’t see anything anymore from the vanilla Android.
Making both the hardware and software that runs on it eventually creates happy customers as the pixel will get support over a longer period than most android devices (<2 years). It also creates a new revenue stream besides ads for Google, now they're selling it at a healthy margin. (They actually broke even on nexus phones or were selling them at a loss, that's why they switched manufacturers so many times.)
Interesting thoughts here @Dave and @Sverre! I agree with Dave that it might be a risky move for Google to focus more on the hardware realm again. However, I also agree with Sverre about the fragmentation part. Producing their own smartphones, Google can ensure that they can push the AI/ machine learning vision reliable to their customers without having other providers modify their software. This also leads to the most consistent customer experience as pointed out by Sverre. For me, Google still has to create more exciting applications of the Google assistant, but if they do so, it’s going to be huge!
I agree with Sverre. Google also got frustrated many times because of the inconsistencies of the mobile devices offered by other smartphone companies that used Android. For Google to release a product that makes use of their own hardware (compared to the nexus that only got contributions from google after 90% of the device was complete) makes perfect sense. Especially since the Pixel will be the first phone to have the new Android operating system Nougat 7.1.
Producing both hardware and software also makes it possible to have the best functioning system. Its a philosophy at Apple follows for a long time which has made them very succesful as well. They also needed a system to further develop applications for their virtual reality and augmented reality products.
Lastly, since Amazon’s Alexa has been a suprise hit with its AI assistant, having google joining the market with one of the best working AI assistants up to date (Google Assistant) could win them a lot of market share.
So I think its a great move from Google, which could gain them a place in the smartphone market.
Hi Jan! I really agree with Google’s view of the future here. I believe that now hardware innovation seems to have slowed down*, Google can now simply add exclusive software features to its own smartphone (like unlimited storage) and create more added value with software features than hardware can still add. I think that this will likely draw away many Android users from the established hardware brands towards Google, creating market share that is very difficult or even impossible to recapture without significant investments in AI, machine learning, and servers. *http://gadgets.ndtv.com/mobiles/opinion/innovation-in-smartphone-technology-has-slowed-down-800565
Hi Jan,
Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts on last night’s announcements. I agree with you in that Googe Assistant may be the most interesting addition to the Android ecosystem for now (you can actually check it out already by downloading the Allo app and using the integrated messenger bot there).
However, you mentioned that Google decided to build this smartphone itself, because AI highly relies on capacities that lay in the ”intersection of hardware and software”. I do not agree with you on this.
Firstly Google didn’t build this smartphone completely by itself. It was produced together with HTC. Google simply got more involved in design and dropped the double branding in comparison to their nexus phones.
Secondly, the machine learning powered algorithms behind Google Assistant are run exclusively in the cloud. The smartphone only serves as an intermediary taking type and voice input and displaying the reply. Google Assistant can therefore be integrated in very different types of hardware. Google Home, the company’s answer to Amazon Echo, is a good example for this.
I believe that it was not Google Assistant, but another announcement from yesterday that made Google get further involved with hardware: Google Daydream, Google’s VR platform. Google decided on very strict hardware criteria for phones to use their new service. With Pixel they wanted to set a good example for a well designed, VR-ready phone.
Thanks for the really interesting insights Moritz, appreciate it! I didn’t know about Google’s partnership with HTC and the fact, that the algorithms are run exclusively in the cloud. In this light, I agree with you that Pixel probably was more directed at their VR platform. Nevertheless, I think it also makes sense for them to gain more control of the phone hardware since, as you said, it is still a main input device. But yes, maybe it wasn’t their main motivation. Again thanks for sharing the knowledge, it made me re-think some parts of what I’ve written yesterday. By the way, do you have any experiences with Google’s VR products?